Informative barrel for pencils, pens, or the like



Feb. 27, 1940. Y. HUFFAKER 2,191,662

. INFORMATIVE BARREL FOR PENCILS, PENS, OR THE LiKE Filed NOV. 30, 1958 I 3 ShtS-Sheet 1 QNP WW Nm Nw @Nlv www1 m. Y k

mw! ii- IHM/after INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 27, 1940. l.. Y. HUFFAKER INFQRMATIVE BARREL FOR PENCILS, PENS, OR THE LIKE l Filed NOV. 30, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 hw mw, R QW Q. l mh mm. .uw ww S1 QW NN., f J7. Nw ,ww W mw uw www.

INVENTOR.

v 'BY ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 27, y1940. Y. HuFFAKl-:R 2,191,662

INFORMATIVE BARREL FOR PENCILS, PENS, 0R THE LIKE Filed Nov. 30, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.

BVM.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 27, 1940 UNITED STA-rss eA/TENT OFFICE.

INFORMATIVE BARREL FOR PENCILS,` PENS, R THE LIKE Lillian Yancey Huffaker, LosrAngeles, Calif. Application November 30, 1938, Serial No. 243,249

' 14 claims. (C1, afi-95) v This invention relates to a barrel adapted v to be combined ,with a pencil, pen, or any other similar stem-like article, one yof the objects yof the invention being to provide a barrel having an area through which certain of the contents are visible, simple and compactl means being housed within the barrel whereby a rolled web can be moved longitudinally within the barrel l for the purpose of displaying any informative l0 data thereon, pictures, or the like or for bringing into position portions of the web which have been marked off to receive scores of games or which are free from printed matter and designed v 20 tridge adapted to be supplied as a refill and which can be readily placed in the barrel and coupled to its operating means.

A further object is to provide a web-carrying cartridge which, when in` position within the 25 barrel, will be completely concealed, the only object appearing through the barrel being that portion of the web which is on display.

Another object is to utilize a cartridge which, if desired, can be employed as a container for 3o a supply of lead if the barrel constitutes a part of a pencil of the type utilizing lead refills.

Another object is to provide an article of this character which can be made of fountain pen size, because of its compact, light and simple 35 construction.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as Athe description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of'construction and combinations of parts here- 40 inafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed. v ,y

45 In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings Figure l is a plan view of a pencil on an enlarged scale provided with the present improvements. l

Figure 2 is a section on line 2 2, Figure 1, the tip portion of the pencilbeing shown in elevation. l u Figure 3 is a section through the barrel taken on a still larger scale, said section being on the line 3 3, Figure 2.'v

Figure 4 is a section on line 4 4, Figure 2. Figure 5 is a section on line 5 5, Figure 2. Figure 6 is a section through the barrel taken 5 on the line 6 6, Figure 5.

. Figure 7 is a perspective view ofthe cartridge from which the spools, web and tie-rods have been removed, a` portion of the cartridge being broken away. f

Figure 8 is an elevation voi a pencil having a barrel dierin'g from that shown in Figure l. Figure 9 is a section on line 9 9, Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a section through one endl Figure 11 is a section showing a modified form. 15 Referring to theA figures by characters of reference I designates a tubular barrel of any desired proportions and made of any preferred material. For example it can be made of `a transparent molded plastic constituting a closed window, as in Figure 8, or itcan-be made of a non-transparent molded plastic vvand in either case the barrel can be formed with a window opening 2 extending longitudinally thereof for a distance slightly less than the width of the-web y* used in the barrel and hereinafter' described. The transparent barrel or window would of course extend entirely around the pencil but if a window opening is used it would extend partly around the barrel.

Each end of the barrel is preferably formed with interior screw-threads as indicated at 3 and 3 respectively and the-threads 3 are adapted to be .engaged by a closure thefnature of which will depend upon the article to which the barrel is applied. If the barrel is to be used with a magazine pencil, this closure can be in the form of a hollow plug 5 adapted to be screwed into the end of the barrel and, if desired, carrying an eraser 6. This plug is cemented or otherwise secured within the body 1 `of the magazine pencilthis body carrying a rotatable tip 8 and any suitable pencil mechanism indicated generally at 9 for holding and feeding a lead IG relative to the top 8. A gasket or washer Il can be clamped between the body 1 and the end of the barrel as shown for the purpose of forming a tight connection. Obviously other types of closures could be used at this end of the barrel. For example a pen holder, a cane, or in fact anything of a stem-like nature could be employed. Under i some conditions it might even be found desirable to close said endof the barrel with an ornamental plug having a knob or the like providing a suitable nish. These modifications are all so obin the barrel.

vious that it is not deemed necessary to describe or illustrate them in detail inasmuch as none of them constitutes anything more than aclosure for one end of the barrel.

The other end of the barrel I containing the threads 4 is adapted to receive a screw vplug I2,

there being a recess I3 extending into this screw plug from that end thereof insertible into the barrel, this recess being countersunk as at I4 to provide an interior' annular shoulder I5.v A disk I6 can be securely held within the countersink I4 where it will bear against shoulder I5 and this disk, together with the outer end of the screw plug, constitutes a bearing for an actuating spindle I'I mounted to slide and rotate therein. To the outer end of this spindle is secured a cap I8 having an annular apron I8' which lits loosely against and surrounds a portion of the screw plug I2 and, when in one extreme position, is adapted to bind upon a washer or gasket I9 extending around the screw plug and bearing against the adjacent end of the barrel I. This cap I8 constitutes means forsliding and rotating the spindle I1.

A pair of stems 2U and 2`I are journalled in the disk I3 and the outer end of plug I2. These stems project inwardly beyond the plug and each of them has a blade-like extension 22 or 23 respectively coaxial with the stem, Secured to stem 2B and held thereby close to the end wall of the recess i3 is a gear 24 and another gear 25 is secured 'to and rotates with stem 2 I., this latter gear being located adjacent to the disk I3. Another gear 26 is secured to and movable with the spindle I7 and when this spindle has been shifted longitudinally to one position, gear 26 meshes with gear 25 whereas when the spindle is shifted to the other limit of its movement, gear 23 is moved out of mesh with'gear 25 and brought into mesh with gear 24. j

For the purpose of preventing free rotation of the stems 2li and 2| when their gears are out of mesh, a substantially lvl-shaped spring 21 is placed astride spindle I'l without contacting with it but the legs of this spring exert a constant outward pressure against the stems 2G and 2I.

` For use in connection with the structure thus far described, there is provided a removable cartridge for holding the'web to be actuated and displayed. This cartridge can be made in various ways but it is preferred to stamp this out of a single blank of sheet metal bent to form disk-like heads 2B connected by an intermediate channelled portion 29 thel side walls of which are folded inwardly, as shown at'3. Thus as these side walls are brought together they can cooperate vwith the channeled member 29 to form a compartment 3l and access to this compartment' can be had through an opening 32 in one of the heads 28. If such a compartment is used it can be employed for holding various objects. For example if the barrel is connected to a magazine pencil, this compartment can be used as a holder for a supply of leads. If it is-not intended to provide a compartment 3i, the structure can be lightened by shortening the inturned sides so that they will not come close together as shown.

The outer or convex surface of the channeled member 29 constitutes a platen or guide as hereinafter explained and formed in the heads at points beyond this platen are openings 33. The corresponding openings in the two heads are coaxial and are also positioned to aline with the stems 2li and 2| when the cartridge is inserted These openings are adapted to receive the reduced ends 34 and 35 of slender spools 36 each of which is preferably formed with a longitudinal slot 37 for receiving the ends of a web 38 as shown particularly in Figure 3. The reduced ends 35 are formed with V-shaped ree cesses 39 and the opposed walls of each recess converge downwardly to the side walls of a short slot 20 extending into the adjacent portion of the spool and diametrically thereacross. Each slot 40 is proportioned to receive one of the. extensions 22 or 23 when the cartridge is inserted longi-v tudinally in the barrel. i

For the purpose of reenforcing the cartridge,

` stiflening or reenforcing rods 4I can be secured at its ends within openings l2 provided at suitable points in the heads 23. It is preferred to locate two-of these rods within the side portions of the slots 29 while a third one can be located adjacent to and between the openings 33. Thus they will at no time interfere with the placing or operation of the web 38.

It is to be understood that any desired number of cartridges can be used successively within the barrel. Each cartridge is supplied with a web which is rolled on one of the spools 33 and attached to both of them at its respective ends.

i The outer surface of the web can be blank if it is desired to enter memoranda thereon or it can be formed with outlined spaces for receiving scores of games. On other webs there can be a display of any suitable printed matter such as text, pictures, road maps, etc. In fact the web used in the barrel can be for various purposes.

When it is desired to use in the barrel a care tridge having a selected kind of web, the closure 5 is disengaged from the thread 3 at one end of the barrel. The selected cartridge is then inserted longitudinally in the barrel, the ends 35 containing recesses 39 being extended toward the plug I2. As the cartridge reaches its extreme position, the slot extensions 22 and 23 are guided by the in-v clined walls of recesses 39 so that the stems 23 and 2l will rotate until these extensions can enter slots fill. Thus the two spools will be coupled to the respective stems 20 and 2I. Thereafter the closure 5 can be reinserted and the device is ready for use. When the cartridge is properly located the platen 29 will serve as a guide for the web and if it is used in a barrel having a window opening 2, it will extend throughout the length andwidth ofthe opening. All portions of the web between the spools will be exposed if the window is in the form of a transparent barrel, as in Figure 8. If a window opening 2 is used, the web surface exposed therethrough can receive any suitable memoranda such as` notes, scores, etc. If the `window is a transparent portion of an opaque barrel, any text matter, pictures, etc., appearing on that portion of the web supported by the platen 29, will be legible through the window. When it is desired to shift the web so as to bring an unexposed portion into View, the cap I8 is shifted longitudinally so as to bring its gear 26 into mesh with the gear 24 or 25 coupled to the spool on which the web is to be wound. Following the shifting of gear 26 to its correct position, the cap I8 is rotated in such a direction as to cause the coupled spool'to wind the web thereon and as it thus winds the web and at the same time unwinds it from the other spool, the latter spool will be held against free rotation because of the pressure of spring 2'! against its gear-carrying stem.

Should it be desired at any time to reverse the rotation of the web, it is merely necessary to shift the cap I8 to its other extreme position, thus coupling gear 25 with the other stem gear whereysuch length as the plug 5, it is to be understood that it could also be inserted or removed from the other end simply by, removing the screw plug l2 from the barrel. v

v In the form, of the. invention illustrated in `Figures' 8, 9.and'l0, the capl which corresponds with capv i8, can rbe made with an apron 42 of barrel.

An important advantage resulting from the use of a barrel allportions of which are transparent, is that a greater area of the surface of the Web is exposed at one time. The rolled ends of the web are substantially in contact at all times so that the Web'is exposed to View throughout the greater portion of the circumference of the barrel.

As has before been stated the sides of the platen need not come together. Instead they can be spaced apart as shown at'43 in Figures 9 and 1l. Furthermore it is not always necessary to use the reenforcing rods which have been shovvnat 4I.

Instead ofprovidingthe barrel with an open- -ing .through which the Web is exposed, asshown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, a magnifying or read'- ing glassM can be used to close the opening and at the same time magnify thematter thereunder. y displayed on the web.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a barrel providing a window, of a cartridge removably mounted in the barrel, separate spools carried thereby, and detachablemeans separate from the cartridge for actuating the spools, said meansr including a structure removably engaging the barrel, a shiftable gear carried by and rotatably mounted relative to said structuralmeans for operating the gear, and separate means actuated by said gear for detachably engaging and driving either of the spools.

2. The combination with a barrel providing a Window, of a cartridge removably mounted in the barrel and including heads and a combined web guide and platen connecting the heads, said platen being positioned adjacentto the Wall of the barrel, separate spools journalled in the heads for engagement by the ends of a Web slidably mounted on the platen, a cap slidably and rotatably mounted relative to the barrel, and selective means controlled by the cap for rotating either of spectively.

4. The combination with a barrel, of a cartridge removably mounted' Within the barrel and including a platen, heads at the ends thereof, spools mounted for rotation within the heads for engagement With the ends of a web extending across the platen, driving stems detachably engaging the respective spools, an operating element slidably and rotatably mounted relative to to lap the end of the transparent the .barrel and connected thereto, and means controlled by said operating meansI for rotating the respective stems and spools in opposite directions respectively.

5. The combination with a barrel, of a cartridge removably mounted Within the barrel and including a platen, heads at the ends thereof', spools mounted for rotation Within the heads for engagement with the ends of a web extending across the platen, driving` stems detachably engaging the respective spools, an operating element slidl ably and rotatably-mounted relative to the barreland connected thereto, and means controlled by said operating means for rotating the respective stems and spools in opposite directions respectively, said means including non-alined gears on the respective stems, a spindle slidable and rotatable with the operating means, and a gear shiftable with the spindle into mesh with either of the first named gears.

6. The combination with a barrel, of a cartridge removably mounted within the barrel and including a platen, heads at the ends thereof, spools mounted for rotation within the heads for engagement with the ends of a web extending across the platen, driving stems detachably engaging the respective spools, an operating element slidably and. rotatably mounted relative to the barrel and connected thereto, and means controlled Aby-said operating means for rotating the respective stems and spools in opposite directions respectively, said means including non-alined gears on the respective stems, a spindle slidable and rotatable with the operating means, and a gear shiftable With'the spindle into mesh with either of the rst named gears,.and friction means for retarding the rotation of the stems.

'7. The combination With a barrel, of a cartridge insertible longitudinally into the barrel and comprising heads and a platen connecting the heads, said platen being positioned adjacent v placement longitudinally, and changeable driving 'mechanism carried by one of said means for rotating the spools separately in opposite directions respectively, each spool, when actuated by said means; constituting means for transmitting motion through the engaged Web to the other spool.

8. The combination with a barrel, of a cartridge therein including a platen, separate spools rotatably mounted adjacent to the platen and carried by the cartridge, each of said spools constituting means for engaging one end of a web and Winding it thereon, said platen constituting a support for a portion of the Web betvveen the spools, an operating spindle slidably and rotatably connected to the barrel, and separate means separately actuated by said spindle for transmitting motion directly but separately'to the respective spools, each spool, When actuated, constituting means for transmitting motion through the engaged web to the other spool, and a closure for one end of the barrel.

9. The combination With a barrel, of a cartridge removably mounted in the barrel and including a platen constituting a guide, spaced Web-engaging rolls, and bearings for the rolls at opposite ends of the platen, a closure for one end ofthe barrel, separate stems mounted for rotation in the closure and for sliding engagement 75 with they respective spools, `said stems and spools cooperating to transmit motion from one to the other, a` spindle slidably and rotatably mounted vin the closure, means for sliding and rotating the spindle, non-alining gears onthe respective -stern's and Vrotatable therewith, and a gear secured to the spindle and between the gears, said spindle being shiftable to move its gear into mesh with either of the gears on the stern.

,10; The combination with a barrel, a closure for one end thereof, stems projecting from the closure and rotatably mounted therein,y and shiftable` operating means for rotating the stems in opposite directions respectively and independently, of a cartridge including a platen, spools rotatably mounted in the cartridge for engagement with the ends of a web extending across the platen, each of said spools having a slotted end,said cartridge being insertable longitudinally into the barrel to couple the slotted ends of the spools tothe respective stems and to position the platen adjacent to the wall ofthe barrel.

1l. The combination with a barrel for attachment at one end to an article of utility, of a closure for the other end of the barrel, a spindle slidably and rotatably mounted in the closure, means outside of the closure for actuating the spindle, stems rotatably mounted within and projecting into the barrel from the closure, means operated by the spindle when rotated while in one extreme position for rotating one of the stems in one direction, means operated vby the stem when vrotated in the same direction while in its vother eX- treme position for rotating the other stem in the opposite direction, a web within the barrel, means for supporting a portion of the Web close to the wall of the barrel, and means detachably engaged by the ends of the web for winding said web, said means being detachably coupled to the respective stems. v v

l2. The combination with a barrel having a window, of a cartridge inlthe barrel including `a. platen adjacent to the window, heads thereon, and web-engaging spools journalled in the heads, each of said spools having a slot extending into one end thereof.

13. The combination with a barrel having a window, of a cartridge in the barrel including a platen adjacent to the window, heads thereon, and web-engagingspools journalled in the heads, each of said spools having a slot extending into one end thereof, the outer end of each `slot being flared to provide deiecting surfaces.

14. The combination with a barrel having a Window, of a cartridge in the barrel including a LILLIAN YANCEY HUFFAKER. 

